Geminid Meteor shower 2024 date and peak time: Here's when and how to witness year's strongest meteor show

The Geminids can be seen globally but are most visible from the Northern Hemisphere. (Image: @TheRealBuzz/X)

The Geminid meteor shower peaks on Friday, 13 December, continuing into early Saturday, 14 December. While a near-full moon may hinder visibility, brighter meteors can still be seen earlier in the week, illuminating the night sky.

Best Viewing Tips for the Geminid Meteor Shower
To maximise your viewing experience, choose a dark location far from city lights. Prepare for cold weather, lie flat on your back, and let your eyes adjust to the darkness for at least 30 minutes. The meteors are best seen after midnight, with peak visibility around 2 a.m. when the radiant point is highest in the sky.

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Blocking the moon’s light can improve visibility, as its brightness will likely obscure many meteors this year. Patience is essential; meteors often appear in clusters, so be prepared to wait for the next burst.

Why 2024 Poses Challenges for Meteor Watchers
This year’s shower coincides with a bright waxing gibbous moon, which reaches full on 15 December. The moonlight will interfere with viewing conditions, making it harder to spot faint meteors. According to NASA’s Bill Cooke, fewer meteors will be visible this year compared to previous showers. He notes that 2025 will offer more favourable conditions for watching the Geminids.

What Makes the Geminids Unique?
The Geminids differ from most meteor showers, which originate from comets. Instead, they come from debris shed by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Discovered in 1983, Phaethon’s unique orbit brings its rocky fragments into Earth’s atmosphere every December.

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Under ideal conditions, the Geminids can produce up to 120 meteors per hour. Known for their brightness and speed, these meteors travel at 22 miles per second and often appear yellow. The rocky nature of Phaethon’s debris also increases the likelihood of fireballs—exceptionally bright meteors visible across the sky.

Where to Watch the Geminids
The Geminids can be seen globally but are most visible from the Northern Hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere viewers can still catch the shower, though at reduced rates. Look near the Gemini constellation, as this is the radiant point of the meteor shower.

No special equipment is needed to enjoy the show—just a clear view of the sky, a comfortable spot to lie down, and plenty of patience.

Looking Ahead: The Next Meteor Shower
The next celestial event, the Ursid meteor shower, is expected to peak on 22 December. While less active than the Geminids, the Ursids still offer a delightful way to close the year’s astronomical calendar.